Bone Grafting

Dental bone grafting at Finaghy Dental in Belfast starts from £650, with the final cost depending on the extent of bone loss, the surgical technique required and the complexity of your individual case.

Our current bone grafting fees are:

• Dental bone grafting: From £650
• Lateral window sinus lift: £2,250
• Block bone grafting: Up to £3,500 per site

Smaller bone grafting procedures may be carried out alongside dental implant placement, particularly where only minor bone augmentation is required.

More extensive procedures, such as lateral window sinus lifts or block bone grafting, are generally recommended when significant bone deficiencies need to be addressed before dental implants can be placed.

A lateral window sinus lift involves carefully elevating the sinus membrane and placing graft material to increase bone height in the upper posterior jaw.

Block bone grafting involves securing a block of bone to an area of significant bone deficiency to rebuild the jawbone and create more favourable conditions for future implant placement.

At Finaghy Dental, we assess your jawbone using clinical examination and appropriate imaging, including CBCT scanning where indicated, to determine the most suitable treatment approach.

Following your consultation, we provide a personalised treatment plan explaining the proposed procedure, anticipated healing period, potential risks and a clear breakdown of the associated costs.

All fees are indicative and subject to periodic review. Additional procedures, including implant placement and implant restorations, are quoted separately where required.

Bone grafting may be necessary when there is insufficient jawbone to support a dental implant in the ideal position.

Following tooth loss, the surrounding bone can gradually shrink in height and width because it is no longer receiving the same functional stimulation from the natural tooth.

Bone loss can also occur as a result of periodontal disease, infection, trauma or previous dental treatment.

Dental implants require an adequate volume of healthy bone to provide stability and support the surrounding tissues. Where bone is insufficient, grafting may help rebuild the area and create more favourable conditions for implant placement.

At Finaghy Dental in Belfast, we carefully assess the available bone before recommending treatment.

Not every patient requires bone grafting, and in some cases alternative implant positions or treatment approaches may be possible.

Dental bone grafts commonly require approximately 3–6 months to heal and mature sufficiently for subsequent implant treatment, although healing times vary considerably between patients.

The timeframe depends on the size of the graft, the material used, the surgical technique, the location of the graft and your individual healing response.

Smaller grafts placed around an implant may heal alongside the implant itself, while larger grafting procedures, such as block bone grafting or lateral window sinus lifts, may require a separate healing period before implant placement.

Although the gum tissue usually heals within the first few weeks, the underlying bone continues to remodel and mature over several months.

At Finaghy Dental, we monitor healing and assess whether sufficient bone has developed before proceeding with the next stage of treatment.

Your individual treatment timeline will be explained during consultation.

Dental bone grafting is generally performed under local anaesthetic, meaning you should not experience pain during the procedure, although you may feel pressure or vibration.

Some swelling, bruising and discomfort are normal following surgery, particularly after more extensive grafting procedures.

These symptoms are usually most noticeable during the first few days and generally improve as healing progresses.

For patients who feel anxious about dental surgery, Finaghy Dental also offers intravenous (IV) conscious sedation with midazolam, subject to a medical and sedation suitability assessment.

IV sedation can help reduce anxiety and make treatment more comfortable while allowing you to remain conscious and responsive.

During your consultation, we explain the procedure, available anaesthetic and sedation options, expected recovery and potential risks.

Several types of bone grafting materials can be used to rebuild lost jawbone, and the most appropriate choice depends on your clinical requirements.

Autograft: Bone taken from another area of your own body, commonly from within the mouth. This contains your own bone tissue but requires an additional surgical donor site.

Allograft: Carefully processed human donor bone obtained from regulated tissue banks. This avoids the need to harvest bone from a second surgical site.

Xenograft: Bone-derived material from another species, commonly bovine, which provides a scaffold to support bone regeneration.

Synthetic grafts: Manufactured biocompatible materials designed to support new bone formation.

In some cases, different graft materials may be combined, and a protective membrane may be used to support healing.

At Finaghy Dental in Belfast, we explain the proposed graft material, its origin, benefits, limitations and associated risks before obtaining your consent.

Your eligibility to donate blood may be affected by the type of bone grafting material used, particularly if you receive human donor bone (an allograft).

UK blood donation services apply specific eligibility rules to patients who have received human tissues or other biological materials.

Patients who receive certain human tissue grafts may be permanently ineligible to donate blood. However, the rules depend on the graft material and the relevant blood donation service.

At Finaghy Dental, we discuss the origin of any proposed graft material, including whether it is human-derived, animal-derived, synthetic or taken from your own body.

If you currently donate blood or intend to do so in the future, please tell us before treatment so that we can discuss the implications and help you check the current eligibility guidance with your blood donation service.

Yes. Although dental bone grafting is a well-established procedure, successful bone regeneration cannot be guaranteed in every case.

Potential complications include infection, wound breakdown, exposure or loss of graft material, delayed healing and insufficient new bone formation.

Other risks may include bleeding, swelling, bruising, damage to adjacent structures and altered sensation, depending on the surgical site.

More complex procedures carry additional risks. For example, lateral window sinus lifts may involve perforation of the sinus membrane or sinus-related complications, while block bone grafting may involve graft exposure, partial graft resorption or donor-site complications where your own bone is harvested.

Smoking, uncontrolled periodontal disease, certain medical conditions and poor postoperative care can increase the risk of complications.

Occasionally, additional grafting may be required if the initial procedure does not produce sufficient bone for implant placement.

At Finaghy Dental in Belfast, we assess your individual risk factors, explain the proposed procedure and provide detailed postoperative instructions to support healing.

Yes. In selected cases, bone grafting can be performed at the same appointment as dental implant placement.

This is commonly considered when sufficient natural bone is available to achieve adequate initial implant stability, but additional grafting is required to improve the surrounding bone volume or contour.

For example, a small amount of bone graft material may be placed around an implant where there is a localised deficiency.

However, when significant bone loss is present, a separate bone grafting procedure may be necessary before implant placement.

This is more commonly considered for extensive bone augmentation procedures, including certain block bone grafts and lateral window sinus lifts, where a period of healing may be required before implants can be placed.

At Finaghy Dental, we use clinical assessment and appropriate radiographic imaging to determine whether simultaneous or staged treatment offers the most suitable approach.

Following dental bone grafting, it is important to protect the surgical area and follow the postoperative instructions provided by your dentist.

During the initial healing period, we generally recommend avoiding hard or crunchy foods, smoking, vigorous rinsing immediately after surgery and unnecessary pressure on the graft site.

You should also avoid disturbing the area with your tongue, fingers or toothbrush while the tissues are healing.

A soft diet may be recommended initially, and any removable denture should only be worn or adjusted as instructed to prevent pressure on the graft.

Following a sinus lift, additional precautions may be necessary, including avoiding nose blowing, sneezing with your mouth closed and activities that significantly increase sinus pressure during the early healing period.

Maintaining good oral hygiene around the surgical site is important, although cleaning techniques may need to be modified temporarily.

At Finaghy Dental, we provide personalised aftercare instructions and arrange follow-up appointments where appropriate.

If you experience increasing swelling, persistent bleeding, worsening pain, fever or significant wound opening, you should contact the practice promptly for assessment.

Insufficient jawbone does not necessarily mean that dental implants are impossible.

Depending on the extent and location of the bone loss, several treatment approaches may be considered.

These include guided bone regeneration, ridge augmentation, block bone grafting and, in the upper back jaw, sinus augmentation or sinus lift procedures.

In more complex cases, alternative implant positions or specialist implant techniques may also be considered.

However, not every patient is suitable for bone grafting or implant treatment, and the potential benefits must be weighed against the surgical risks, complexity and long-term prognosis.

At Finaghy Dental in Belfast, we assess your jawbone, remaining teeth, gum health and medical history before discussing the available options.

Where appropriate, we may also discuss alternatives such as conventional bridges or removable dentures.

Our aim is to recommend a treatment approach that provides a stable and maintainable long-term result while avoiding unnecessary surgery.